My best sweet and savory cranberry recipes ~ from simple cranberry sauce and cookies to exotic treats, healthy smoothies, and main course dishes. Cranberries add incredible flair to every meal of the day.
it’s fresh cranberry season!
It’s cranberry season, and your cue to stock up so we can cook together with this special berry. I look forward to fresh cranberries hitting the stores every year, they’re one of my top favorite ingredients to cook with of all time. Their super-bright, tart flavor lends such amazing energy to dishes of all sorts. Cranberries have a lot in common with citrus fruit, they’re both acidic and have a similar versatility in both sweet and savory recipes. But cranberries have that pop of amazing color that lemons only wish they had.
During cranberry season (mid September through December) you’ll find them fresh, in plastic bags, in the produce section. Every store locates them differently, so ask if you don’t spot them. You can usually find frozen cranberries year round in the freezer aisle.
They’re pretty hardy so they’ll last up to a month in the refrigerator, up to a year in the freezer.
Rinse and dry them thoroughly. Lay them out in a single layer on a baking tray and put the tray in the freezer until the berries are frozen solid. Transfer to a heavy duty freezer zip lock bag and press out any excess air before sealing.
cranberry breakfast cake
This simple, one-bowl cranberry cake is one of the most popular cranberry recipes on the site, and I can understand why! It’s super easy to whip up, and really lets those bright pops of cranberry shine. It’s ideal for holiday mornings.
cranberry glazed pork roast
Cranberries lend themselves very well to savory recipes where their tartness acts in the same ways as citrus to cut through rich or fatty foods like roasts. This pork roast is special enough to serve to company.
fresh cranberry muffins
Let’s say you’ve got a bag of fresh cranberries and you want a simple, wholesome recipe that’s not too fussy and will really showcase those berries. I’d recommend these easy, one bowl muffins.
Scandinavian Rice Pudding with Cranberries
Like the classic pairing of fresh berries and whipped cream, bright tangy cranberries contrast perfectly with the mellow sweetness of this Scandinavian-inspired rice pudding.
cranberry cleanse smoothie
Ditch the bananas ~ cranberries boast a whole host of health benefits – they are full of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, making them the perfect addition to fall and winter smoothies.
cranberry crumble shortbread tart
It’s a fabulous buttery shortbread crust filled with a tart cranberry filling. It goes from breakfast and brunch to holiday dessert with ease ~ isn’t it nice when a recipe cooperates like that?
brats with cranberry apple relish
If you’ve never eaten cranberries raw, consider this your invitation! Paired with sweet, crunchy apples, and spicy jalapenos, they add the perfect tangy note to round out this incredible relish.
cranberry gingersnap pie
This pie is a showstopper, and never fails to elicit a big reaction when it’s brought to the table. I love it as an alternative to the ubiquitous pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.
hot pepper cranberry jam
Sweet, savory, and spicy, this jam has it all! Enjoy it with fall and winter cheese plates or in an out-of-this-world grilled cheese sandwich.
cranberry orange shortbread cookies
When I really want to highlight a flavor combination without a lot of distraction, I turn simple, buttery shortbread cookies. The classic combo of cranberry and orange shines here, and they make great gifts for the holidays.
no churn cranberry ice cream
I love a good fall and winter ice cream, it’s so unexpected and fun to take flavors we associate with the colder months and whip them up into a frosty treat.
cranberry relish with horseradish and sour cream
Ok, I’ll admit, it might sound weird, but this irresistible spread will be the breakout star of your Thanksgiving leftover lineup! It takes a leftover turkey sandwich from obligatory to unbelievable.
chocolate cake with cranberry buttercream
Chocolate and cranberry is one of those sophisticated flavor pairings that deserves more attention. If you love lemon and chocolate together, I think you’ll flip over this cake. The pretty pink cranberry buttercream is spectacular!
wild rice porridge with cranberries and walnuts
If your fall and winter breakfast game is feeling a little weak, this nutritional powerhouse of a breakfast bowl is just the thing to shake things up. Nutty wild rice is cooked into a creamy porridge and accented with maple syrup, fresh roasted cranberries, and crunchy walnuts
cranberry orange bread
When you just need a delicious little baking project around the fall and winter holiday seasons, this cranberry orange loaf cake is the perfect thing. The cake itself is simple, yet rich and delicious, and sugared cranberries on top are so fun and simple to make.
15 minute maple cranberry butter
Just 2 ingredients and 15 minutes makes the most awesomely silky sweet/tart spread ever. I love it on toast, with cheese and crackers, or slathered on a turkey sandwich.
cranberry apple crisp
Zingy cranberries take a classic crisp to a whole new level. I could (and did!) eat this for breakfast!
Easy Mulled Cranberry Jelly
A unique homemade cranberry jelly infused with mulling spices. Can it to give it out as holiday gifts, or hoard it all for yourself ~ it’s amazing with cheese and crackers, on a sandwich, and of course with your turkey on Thanksgiving and your roast or ham at Christmas.
Oh my goodness, Sue, what a delicious collection of cranberry recipes you have put together for us today. They all look incredible and I have bookmarked several. Hope you have a great holiday season!
Thanks Janelle, I hope it’s going to be a great one, we all deserve it 🙂